Chamber announces longtime volunteers as the 2015 Citizens of the Year

Petrina J. Johnson

Published 2:48 pm, Monday, December 28, 2015

Image 1of/2

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 2

Kathryn “Kit” Pfeiffer is the winner of the 2015 Citizen of the Year. She was recently surprised by members of the GTACC with balloons and flowers at her home.

Kathryn “Kit” Pfeiffer is the winner of the 2015 Citizen of the Year. She was recently surprised by members of the GTACC with balloons and flowers at her home.

Image 2 of 2

Ken Waden was also selected the 2015 Citizen of the year. He passed away earlier this year and his award will be presented to his family.

Ken Waden was also selected the 2015 Citizen of the year. He passed away earlier this year and his award will be presented to his family.

Chamber announces longtime volunteers as the 2015 Citizens of the Year

1 / 2

Back to Gallery

It’s the end of the year and the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce (GTACC) has announced its 2015 Citizen of the Year.

Committee members, former recipients and staff members recently surprised Kathryn “Kit” Pfeiffer with flowers and balloons at her home letting her know the committee voted her this year’s winner. She has proven to be a great citizen of Tomball through her dedication and service to the community.

“Kit is the picture of a true volunteer hero,” said GTACC President Bruce Hillegeist. “We are so blessed she is part of our community, and thankful that she gives so much of herself to touch the lives of others.”

Pfeiffer has lived in Tomball for more than 30 years and volunteers at the Tomball United Methodist Church. This year she led a committee that helped the homeless by creating bags of snacks, toiletries and other various items distributed to those in need.

She is also quite involved with the Tomball Sister City Organization and relations to Telgte, Germany. Active with the American Cultural Exchange Service, Pfeifer helps with promoting the Tomball Student Exchange program.

In 2000 the two cities became known as sister cities and citizens of Telgte were interested in student exchange. Pfeifer said since the program began, 50 students have come to Tomball for an entire school year and seven students from Tomball have gone to Telgte for periods ranging from six weeks to an entire school year also.

“Working with these students and families and our friends in Telgte over the years has been a source of great joy for me,” she added. “I have had the privilege of watching relationships between students and their host families and the friends they make while here continue to grow.”

The chamber also selected Ken Walden as Citizen of The Year. Walden volunteered at the Tomball Train Depot as a ticket agent and loved trains. Earlier this year Walden passed away and his award will be presented to his family posthumously. He was named “Volunteer of Year” by the Texas Festival & Events Association also after his death and the award was accepted by his sister Karen Perkovich.

The Citizen of the Year award will be formally presented at the Chamber’s Annual Chairman’s Ball. Pfeifer said being chosen was not only a big surprise for her but a true honor.